Casieu parish



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

' W. D. 0. SMITH.

LETTER BOX.

No. 476,321. Patented June 7,1892.

WITNESSES: IIVVENTOI? E. zwwag/ WTOJUM; M

ATTORNEY.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2'.

W. D. 0. SMITH.

LETTER BOX. No. 476,321. Pa tentedJune 7, 1892.

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UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM D. 0. SMITH, OF SULPHUR CITY, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO ZEPI-IERIN LE BOEUF AND TI-IADDEUS MAYO, OF CAL- CASIEU PARISH, LOUISIANA.

LETTER-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters latent No. 476,321, dated June '7, 1892. Application filed August 24, 1891. Serial No. 403,587- (No model.)

T at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WVILLIAM D. 0. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Sulphur City, parish of Oalcasieu, State of Louisiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in a House Letter-Box, of which the following is a full and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification.

to This invention relates to certain improvements in mail-boxes, especiallyof that class intended for business-houses and residences.

It provides for the collection as well as delivery of mails and has separate com partments for letters and lower-rate postal-matter. The compartments are protected from rain, sleet, snow, and dust, and the letter-compartments are provided with mechanism for indicating the presence of mail-matter therein. It also provides against the removal of boxes when properly secured in position and against the withdrawal of letters therefrom by unauthorized persons.

My mail-box may be made with a single letter-compartment for the reception of mailmatter, or it may be constructed with two letter-compartments, as hereinafter indicated, for the collection and delivery of mails, the occupants of the building having a key to the receiving or delivery compartment and the letter carrier or collector a key to the outgoing or collecting compartment. The indicator mechanism of one compartment being a d uplicate of the other compartment, a single de- 3 5 scription thereof will answer for either or both.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a vertical longitudinal section of my improved mail-box, showing the door of the letter-compartment closed and before the insertion of letters through the receiving-aperture thereof. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the box with a part of the outer casing broken away. In this figure the flap of the letter-receiving aperture is shown in its rearward position, as when 5 thrust inward for the ad mission of letters. Fig. 3 is a similar view of the box with the door of the letter-compartment open to allow of the withdrawal of letters therefrom. Fig. t is partly an end view of the box and partly a vertical cross-section thereof, the sectional 5c. portion showing the interior of the letter and paper compartments and the sub-compartment with indicator mechanism located therein. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the box withan upper letter-compartment, shown in dotted lines, as in mail-boxes intended for both the incoming and outgoing mail.

On the drawings the letter A designates the mail-box as a whole; B, the low-rate or paper compartment; 0, the letter delivery or receiving compartment, and D (see Fig. 5) theletter collecting or outgoing compartment. The compartment B has an open end or mouth partially covered by aprojecting hood for shedding rain, snow, &c., and thereby protecting its contents from inclement weather. hen two letter-compartments are used, one is afacsimile of the other in all respects, except in Width, the upper one being as much wider than the one next below as that one is wider than the paper-compartment beneath same. The ex cess in width is carried to the front of the box and forms projections, through the bottom of which the lettered part of the indicator-baris made to operate. Each letter-compartment is provided with a vertical longitudinal partition E, which is secured by means of cleats and screws or in other desired manner about 011 a line with the front of the com partment below, so as to form a sub-compartment for theindi- 8o cator mechanism. Each letter-compartment is provided with an open end and a doorocfor closing same. The dooris pivotally connected with the box, as shown at a, so as to open downward, and thus form a temporary shelf, upon which theletters may be gathered. The door is provided at its upper edge with a lock b and immediately below same with a letterreceiving aperture 0, having a hood 0 over its outer side and a flap cl hinged to its inner 0 side, as shown at d. When the door is locked,

the flap is held in closed position by a bent rod F, which operates on a pivot e, projecting from the upper part of the partition. This rod is preferably provided at its forward end 5 with a bend f,tl1e point of which rests against the flap and by reason of its weighted end serves to keep same closed, except when pushed inward for the insertion of letters. The forward end of the rod is relieved from excessive pressure by the projecting pin f, upon which the weighted end of the lever rests when in its normal position.

The letter M designates the indicator-bar, which is centrally pivoted to the partition,as at g, so that its sign-plate H may operate in a slot 71, formed in the bottom of the forward part of the sub-compartment. The rear end of the bar M is bent upward to allow of its being sufficiently depressed to raise the signplate, as shown in Fig. 1, so that it. shall not be seen from the outside of the box. A sliding block N, fitted on the rear portion of the indicator-bar, is pivotally connected with a rod P, the forward end of which is journaled in a strap 2', that is secured to the door of the compartment. A slight offset is made in the rear end of the indicator-bar near its fulcrum in order to leave sufficient space between the forward end thereof and the rod P for the working of disk or wheel R, the axle of which projects from the partition, as shown at k. The disk or wheel R is prov ded near its periphery with three pins ZZ Z, arranged at or about equal distances apart. Two of these pins project from the rear and the other from the front side of the wheel. To the rear pin Z is journaled the rear end of a rod L, the forward portion of which is pivot-ed, as at o, to the upper part of a vibrating lever 0', which has its lower portion pivoted to the partition, so that the forward movement of the bar L may at certain times rest against the flap of the letter-aperture. The pin Z, also at the rearof the Wheel, is brought in contact with the upper edge of the sign-bar when the wheel is moved backward by reason of theletter-flap beingpushed inward, as shown in Fig. 2, in which position these parts remain until brought back to their original positions by the opening of the lettercompartment, which action causes the rod 1 connecting the door thereof and the sliding weight, to bear against the front pin 1' of the wheel and move same forward until the rod P is brought back to the position shown in Fig. 3. The closing of the door 00 forces the sliding weight toward the outer end of the sign-bar, thereby tilting same and raising the sign-plate clear of the opening, asin Fig. 1.

From the above description it will be seen that the act of inserting letters in the receiving-aperture of the box insures the desired movement of the indicator and exposes the sign-plate thereof, on which is printed or painted the word Mail or other word to indicate the presence of mail in the box.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

1. In combination with a letter-box having a sign-opening in the bottom thereof, an indicator mechanism consisting of a wheel provided with projecting pins, as described, a pivoted sign-bar,a sliding-weight on the rear of said bar, and a rod connecting the weight and door, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, in a letter-box having an indicator-compartment and sign-opening in the bottom thereof, of a pivoted sign-bar, a sliding weight thereon, and a rod connecting the said weight and door, as described, with a wheel provided with three projecing pins, as set forth, and a lever arranged to be operated by the flap of the letter-aperture, sub stantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM D. 0. SMITH. Witnesses:

JOHN HARBOTTLE, E. B. MACDONALD. 

